Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf H Project

[cahlfors]

You stayed up all night?

Stunning detail and now - stunning paint job as well. I particularly like how the paint is worn on all protruding edges. It looks very real!

How I wish I had the opportunity to seeing it in real life!

What tool did you use for spraying? My airbrush can only produce a very narrow pattern, less than 1cm wide.

Cheers,
/Chris

[TBowman]

Hi Chris

many thanks for the positive comments. Tactical numbers, crosses and the layering of dirt and mud should be about it. I use an airbrush and when I paint the camo blotches, I simply move back and forth as I go to get the variation in pattern size and shape.

Here's some proper photos taken today with better lighting.





























Tim

[cahlfors]

Still more stunning detail in this light!

Cheers,
/Chris

[Björn Johansson]

Pure eye-candy Tim

Will enjoy this for a long time

[Gabriel]

Madness! This is very very good, beutiful peice of tank you got there Tim Great job.

[TBowman]

Thank you guys for comments. Although it's not 100%, I had an idea to do a time-lapse video of the two years on this project. So here's what it is so far.

A Panzer IV in about four minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOdD_K95Zyc

Hope to paint the numbers and crosses and complete the weathering this weekend after the holiday.

Tim

[pepppe75]

Hi tim!!

like i mentioned before absolutly amazing!!

and the time machine video is so cool!!

cant wait to see the beuty with the markings!


kindest regards peppe

[TBowman]

Thanks Peppe

The artwork for the numbers is completed and I have been experimenting with getting the right look for the hand-painted style tactical numbers for 12SS in Normandy.

but.......as I procrastinate on the crosses and numbers for fear of screwing it up, and with the weather as nice as is it is here today(like summer) I decided to add some of the next steps of dried mud and dust to the lower hull. This also toned down the camo slightly. the schurzen were dusted from the ground up as well but not photoed.

These might not look too much different then the last post but I'm taking it slow with small steps at this final stage.




















Tim

[Björn Johansson]

More picture to enjoy and
dream you´r self away with.

[TBowman]

Hi Bjorn Thanks

Here is the step by step of the fakelite paintwork I do on my periscope housings. I'm posting the beginning steps again so it's all here in one place.

First a short bit about 1940s bakelite. It came in many, many different colorations, patterns and amount and size of flecks.

Some sample images of actual backelite.

German Field Phone


note the two different colors on the same phone case


Other samples






German Periscope Housing(photos courtesy of my friend Kent Wiik)


Were there black ones?


Installed in a Panther cupola



I use only flat colors of Model Masters but brand is not important. Use the one you are comfortable with. Also, actual bakelite varies greatly in coloration and color mottling pattern so there is plenty of room for artistic license and more ore less colors depending on what you like. Overall color can vary from lots of red/orange to a very dark brown. I have seen varied coloring even in the same cupola.(granted it was restored).

Tools used

- Red Primer
- Rust colored paint
- Light Brown colored paint
- Dark Brown colored paint
- Black colored paint
- Fine tipped brush
- Medium sized brush
- Small mixing cup
- Thinner
- Small piece cut from a sponge (I prefer the synthetic, yellow ones used for drywall work that can be purchased at a hardware store for about a dollar.)





Step One
Paint the scope housings with your favorite red primer and let dry






Step Two
Using a small brush, smash the bristles so they are fanned out. I start with the darker color first but it's not really important. Make sure the paint is thinned quite a bit so it doesn't build up too much on the part.


Using a popsicle stick as my pallet, I dab the brush on it to unload excess paint from the brush






Step Three
Once the dark layer is randomly applied, do the same with a rust color dabbing over you last speckles as well as the other areas. Bakelite has a layered look to it so working randomly over the top of each layer you just painted, achieves this look .


Step Four
Now using both colors as needed until you have the look you want.


Inserted into a housing bracket


Installed on the Tiger




Panther housings dome a few years ago




Could we just paint periscopes black? Yes. But where's the fun in that. I prefer the reddish colors to contrast the other parts of the panzer but colors can easily be adjusted to suit your own preference. The scopes shown above Mike Stannard's excellent prism housings.

Hope this is useful and/or entertaining.

Have fun!
Tim

[TBowman]

With factory crosses applied. Only had to redo one side.:p One step closer to finishing the never-ending project.











Tim

[TBowman]

Hi everyone

Started on the commander. This tank will represent a platoon leader's tank from 2nd platoon so I wanted him to have a "veteran" look but not an old man. His rank and shoulder boards will be added/corrected. A few more headsculpts arriving this week so might try some others too.











Tim

[johan1]

What can I say Tim ?..............

[pepppe75]

hi TIM!!

absolutly stunning!!!

the head sculpt is realy AWESOME!!!!!!



kindest regrads peppe.

[Björn Johansson]

Really cool Tank Commander
you got there. :salut:

Soldier Story body I think?
But I do not recognize the headsculpt ?